Citizen Science at Kahalu‘u BayCitizen Science at Kahalu‘u Bay

These slides were made possible by generous support from the Hawaii

State Department of Health, NELHA, The Kohala Center and the EPA.

Why Citizen Science?Why Citizen Science?

• Kahalu‘u Bay has been the center of a human community for at least 800 years

• Residences, businesses, transportation networks, golf courses, new construction can all impact water quality

• By measuring a few basic characteristics of water we can inform community, decision makers and scientists on the health of our ecosystem

• Over time, monitoring can help identify fluctuations and trends in water quality that may be associated with human activities

Goals for Citizen Science Goals for Citizen Science ProjectProject

• Improve community environmental monitoring by engaging and training citizens in theory of water quality sampling, field data collection, analysis and interpretation

• Create a system and method that other communities can use to self assess their impact on the immediate environment

• Share knowledge and ideas• Ask questions and learn• HAVE FUN!

Basic Water Quality Basic Water Quality Parameters- YSIParameters- YSI

• Temperature: critical measurement, affects ability of water to hold oxygen and ability of organisms to resist pollutants

• Salinity: amount of salt in water, coral tolerates a narrow range of salinity

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Basic Water Quality Basic Water Quality Parameters- YSIParameters- YSI

• Dissolved Oxygen: amount of oxygen dissolved in water, varies inversely with temperature

• pH: how acidic or basic the water is, sea water is normally between 8.0 and 8.4 (Basic)

Basic Water Quality Basic Water Quality Parameters- Hach 2100Parameters- Hach 2100

• Turbidity: measurement of water clarity, varies depending on environment

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Nutrient Water Quality Nutrient Water Quality Parameters- NELHAParameters- NELHA

Ammonia (NH3): form of nitrogen, can be toxic even in low concentrations

Nitrate (NO3): found in ground water and surface waters, natural levels are low, excessive nitrates can be toxic to aquatic animals

Orthophosphate (PO4): can have dramatic effects on ecosystems even in low concentration

Silica (SiO2): mineral commonly found in groundwater

Goals for Today’s TrainingGoals for Today’s Training

• Become comfortable with collecting samples, operating YSI 556 and Hach 2100

• Practice recording data and observations

• Create sampling schedule for Tuesdays and Saturdays

• Collect 15 samples to take be tested at NELHA for baseline measurements

Citizen Science TipsCitizen Science Tips

1. SAFETY FIRST! Be careful for yourself and the reef animals.

2. WATCH THE SURF AT ALL TIMES !!